Grinder and emulsor valve



Nov. 11, 1941. J. MARCO 2,262,024

GRINDER AND EMULSOR VALVE Filed May 4, 1959 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 11, 1941, J. MARCO 2,262,024 v GRINDER AND EMULSOR VALVE Fiied May 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. ll, 1941 GRINDER AND EMULSOR VALVE John -Marco, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Marco Company, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania V Application May 4, 1939, Serial No. 271,785

12 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in grinders and emulsor valves, and

more particularly to a combination homogenizer and grinding head interchangeable with parts used on my improved pump and homogehizer structure as illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 235,509.

A primary object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved grinder and emulsor which is capable of ready and quick assembly to a pump, and capable of quick removal thereparts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims. In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved grinder and emulsifier assembled with an improved pump structure, the latter constituting the subject matter of another application;

from, whereby materials heretofore found to be difficult to grind or emulsify, maybe quickly and readily treated and the desired results obtained.

Whereas this particular invention is capable of being used in various industries in connection with various products, it is particularly useful in the grinding of materials being carried through the process of homogenization and best suited for use with materials of an abrasive nature or hard fibrous substance requiring an even micron reduction necessary to maintain an homogenous mixture. a

- The following products require grinding and emulsifying and my improved device is designed and constructed to accomplish this result: Cran- 7 the drawings in which similarreference charberries, seeds and skin to be used in jellies, sauces,

etc.; strawberries, blackberries, raspberries,

prunes, apples, peaches, etc.; oranges, skin and pulp; peanut butter for better stabilization; asphalt for various emulsions; wax and abrasives for various polishes; vegetables for baby foods; dry or fresh corn, soy beans, wheat, barley, oats, etc.; mustard and other similar products. Any of the various products used in dairy, drug, chemical, food and/or petroleum industries may be ground and emulsified with my improved device -used in association with a pump and homogenizer.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a structure which will positively carry forward the purposes for which the same is designed and which is simple and durable in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and one which is capable of quick and Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof; Figure 3 is a vertical section therethrough as seen on the line 33 of Figure 2, with parts in elevation;

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of the grinding apparatus removed and with the elements separated, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a slight modification of the rotary grinder member; and

Figure 6 is a sectional perspective view of a,

modified form of stationary grinder member with which the rotary grinder member shown in Figure 5 is used.

In describing the invention, I shall refer to acters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which the numeral I designates a pump body through which extends a drive shaft 2, the end of which is slotted, as shown at 3,-for a purpose to be hereinafter and more particularly described. While the structure of this pump constitutes subject matter of a separate application for patent, reference will be generally made, to certain parts shown herein to which are connected the various elements constituting my improved grinder and emulsor valve. V

This pump body supports an additional shaft 4 and on the shafts 2 and 4 are mounted rotors 4a which are surrounded by the rotor housing 5 and the outer end of said housing has applied thereto a header plate 6, said parts being held to the pump body through the medium of the stud bolts 1.

Also secured to the header plate 6 through said bolts 1 is a cover plate from which extends a hollow body or shell 9 forming a housing for an improved grinder and emulsifier, as will be hereinafter set forth. The header plate 6 with its hollow extension 9 thereon, hasv an opening l0 and emulsifier hereinafter set forth in detail being one of a number of devices which are capable of ready application to use in connection with my improved pump structure which, as

aforesaid, constitutes a separate application for patent.

i As previously stated, the outer end of the driving shaft 2 is slotted and the slots 3 thereof are adapted to receive therein lugs I l projecting diametrically from a point near the end of a driven the plate 8 and into the body or housing 9 and at a point on said shaft within said housing, there is located a collar l5 against which abuts the inner end of a frusto-conical grinder l6, said grinder being formed of granite, or other hard stone, or of steel, as may be desired, according to the character of the material being treated. The grinder I6 is held tightly in place against the collar l5 on said shaft l2 through the medium of a lock nut I! which is threaded on a portion l8 of the shaft I2, as also clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

The bore or opening ID in the cover plate 8 leads to a grinder chamber, the diameter of which is greater than the opening 10, thereby forming a shoulder l9 against which abuts a stationary grinding shell Zl'll formed of a materi'al similar to the grinder Hi. In the normal po'-- sition of the shaft l2, the grinder IE will fit tightly within the grinder shell 20. In view of the connection between the inner end of the shaft l2 and the outer end of the shaft 2, the shaft l2 will obviously rotat with said shaft 2, so that materials passing from the: rotors through the opening in the cover plate will be ground bea tween the surfaces of thegrinder l6 and the shell As indicated heretofore, the housing or body 9 forming an extension on the plate 8 also is adapted to constitute a chamber for an emulsor To this end, the extension of the housing 9 continuing from the chamber holding 'the grinding mechanism aforesaid is slightly enlarged in diameter, forming at such enlargement a shoulder 2 l against which is fitted an annular valve seat 22. This valve seat is secured in place in the-housing against said shoulder 2| through the medium of a set-screw 23 held in place by a lock nut 24 projecting from the outer periphery of said housing, clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Adapted to -be yieldingly held against said seat 22 is the emulsor valve 25 of a type somewhat similar to one of the various valves illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 235,509, aforesaid, said valve carrying a tubular sleeve or neck POI? tion 26 which acts as a support for a coiled spring 21 for normally retaining said valve 25 in yielding position against the seat 22.

provided with openings 30 adjacent the peripheral edge thereof through which the material being emulsified or homogenized passes to the outlet 30' of the device. This outlet 30' obviously communicates Y with the interior of the housing 9, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

It may be here stated that the material passing through the plate 8 under pressure of the pump is adapted to be ground between the faces of the elements l6 and 20 from whence it is guided through the opening in the valve seat 22 and emulsified or homogenized between the faces of said seat and the valve 25. The-grinder l6 rotates with the shaft 2, as heretofore stated. The shell 20 is secured against rotation through the medium of the set-screw 20a, as shown in Figure 3. The end of the shaft l2 abuts a fibre seal 3| which in turn abuts a thrust collet 32, the latter supporting a thrust ball-bearing 33. A packing 34 surrounds the shaft l2 at the point where it enters the valve 25 to prevent leakage of any of the material being treated through the bore of said valve.

The grinder-is adjusted with respect to its shell through the medium of the adjusting shaft 35 which passes through a threaded bushing 36 and has its innermost end in abutment with the thrust ball-bearing 33. The bushing 36 is'internally threaded to receive a threaded portion 31 of the adjusting shaft 35 and is externally threaded for engagement with a header plate 38 carried at the end of the housing or body 9. Between the header plate 38 and the outer end of the body or housing 9 is a compression seal plate 39, through which the inner end of the bushing 36 passes, said inner end of the bushplate 38 is held in place against the outer end of the housing or body 9 through the medium of the stud bolts 4|.

- A seal nut 42, applied to the adjusting shaft 35 engages an internally threaded socket or pocket in the head of the bushing 36 and when tightened in place, compresses a packing 43 which is carried in the socket or pocket of said head. The outer end of the adjusting shaft 35 is provided with a head 44 through which extends-a cross rod or handl bar 45, whereby said shaft 35 may be readily turned through the bushing which will be held stationary by a wrench engaged with the head at the outer end of the bushing or the handl bar and the head '44 may be employed for holding the shaft 35 stationary while turning the bushing about the shaft with a wrench. It is obvious that the threads of the through the openings 28 form, at the periphery of said valve. The. spring 21 is held under tension through the medium of a spring retainer 29 which is also that the grinder may be adjusted through the medium of the shaft 35, whereas the emulsor valve is adjustable through the medium of the bushing 36. Thus, each of the elements of this 75,grinder and emulsifier is independently adjustable, although arranged concentrically to cooperate one with the other in a single'housing,

defining a grinder chamber and an emulsifying chamber.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have shown a slightly bore having the greater diameter, the wider ends,

of the grooves extending to the one end'of the shell while the narrowed ends of the grooves terminate short of the opposite end of said shell.'

Corresponding thereto, the grinder 41 is provided extemally with a plurality of spaced-apart grooves 49 which likewise are tapered smaller toward the end of the grinder having the greater diameter, terminating short of the latter end, but extending to the edge of the grinder at the opposite end. The grooves of the grinder and shell I are obviously of the same character and dimensions, and these grooves serve to cause an impact ,shearing action, gradually reducing the size of the particles passing therethrough. This type of 'modified grinder is of particular importance in the treatment of certain materials where a shearing action is necessary to accomplish the desired 'results.

When this grinder and emulsifier is in use,

the material to be treated is delivered from a source of supply to the inlet 50, the latter being clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and from said inlet, said material fio'ws through the passage 5|, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, into the pump housing from which it is forced under pressure by the rotors through the registering passages leading to the grinder chamber. The pressure causes this material to be I forced between the grinder block and the grinder sleeve and as the block IE, or the modified block 41, rotates and the sleeve 20, or the modified sleeve 46, is stationary, a very eficient grinding action takes place. In view of the fact that by turning the shaft 35, the shaft l2 and the grinder block carried thereby may be shifted longitudinally, the block may be set in predetermined spaced relation to the walls of the sleeve and a coarse or a fine grinding accomplished. After the material has been subjected to the grinding action, it is forced under pressure through the central opening of the valve seat 22 and the emulsor valve will beforced away from the seat in opposition to action of the spring 21. By turning the bushing 36 to,'effect shifting of the plate 29 longitudinally in the chamber of the emulsifier, tension of said spring may be regulated as the pressure required to force the emulsor valve away from its seat is'thus controlled. After passing the valve, the material being treated will b thoroughly emulsified, and in this state, it will be delivered from the device through the outlet 30'. Obviously, various types of valves for emulsification may beused and my device is so constructed and designed that all parts are readily removable and various types of grinders or emulsor valves capable of substitution therefor. Like wise, the quick and ready removal of the parts enables the same'to be cleansed at the will of the operator, thus complying with all rules and regulations or laws governing sanitation in the various states where such a device may be used.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the operation thereof and the method of applying the same to use will be readily understood. It will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and eflicient means for carrying out the various objects of the invention, and while I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and'in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invertion.

What is claimed is:

1. Inan emulsor and grinder, a housing having an inlet and an outlet, emulsor means in said housing, grinder means therein disposed between the emulsor means and the inlet and in axial alinement therewith, and concentric members for independently adjusting the emulsor means and the grinder means extending axiallyof the housing and through one end thereof for actuation externally of the housing, one of saidmembers being threaded through the outer end of the housing and the other of said members being threaded through the first member.

2. In an emulsor and grinder, a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a head being provided at one end of the housing, emulsifying means in said housing, grinding means therein between the emulsifying means and the inlet, and means for independently adjusting the emulsifying means and the grinding means arranged in concentric threaded engagement with the head and each other and extending externally of the housing through the head for independent actuation.

3. In an emulsor and grinder,'a body having a chamber therein provided with an outlet and at one end with an inlet, a grinder in said cham-' her having a stationary member surrounding the inlet and a rotary member in operative relation to the stationary member, a valve seat in said chamber between the grinder and the outlet, an emulsor valve, a spring for vyieldably holding said valve against said valve seat under predetermined tensi0n, means for tensioning said spring, and adjusting means for the rotary grinder member adjustably carried by the spring tensioning means.

4. In an emulsor and grinder, a housing having an inlet and an outlet, emulsifying means in said housing including a stationary member and a movable member, grinding means in said housing between the emulsifying means and the inlet,

adjusting means for one member of said emulsithrough the adjusting means for the emulsifying means.

5. In an emulsor and grinder, a housing having an inlet and an outlet, emulsifying means in said housing, grinding means in said housing between the emulsifying means and the inlet, each of said means including a stationary member and a movable member, and members for independently adjusting said movable members relative to' their respective companion stationary members,

one of said members being threaded through an end of the housing and the other member being v threaded through the first member.

6. In an emulsor and grinder, a housing having a head at its outer end and formed with an inlet at its inner end and an outlet spaced from the inlet longitudinally of the housing,

emulsifying means in said housing including a between the emulsor means and the inlet and in axial alinement therewith, adjusting .means for the emulsor means in axial alinement therewith, and additional adjusting means for the grinder means in axial alinement therewith operating through the adjusting means for the emulsor.

8. In an emulsor and grinder, a body having a chamber therein formed with an" inlet at one end, a valve seat in said chamber spaced'from the inlet end thereof, an emulsor valve in said chamber yieldably held against the valve seat under predetermined-pressure, a shaft extending longitudinally of said chamber and through the inlet thereof, the inner end portion of said shaft being rotatably supported by said valve, a stationary annular grinder member in said chamber surrounding the inlet, a grinder block carried by said shaft and; fitting within the annular of said spring, a bushing threaded through said head with its inner end abutting the spring rea rotatable grinder shaft extending longitudinally in said chamber through. the inlet thereof with its inner end rotatably supported in the bore of said valve, an annular grinder member grinder member, and means operating through said valve for adjusting the position of said shaft longitudinally and disposing the grinder block .in operative relation to the annular grinder member.

9. In an emulsor and grinder, a body having a chamber therein formed with an inlet at one end, an annular valve seat in said chamberv spaced from the inlet end thereof, an emulsor valve in said chamber, a head for said chamber carried by said body, a tubular bushing threaded through said head, a'helical spring for urgin said chamber surrounding the inlet and having a tapered bore, a frusto-conical grinder block carried by said shaft within the chamber and conforming to the taper of the-bore of the annular grinder member for wedging fit therein, a

spring urging said shaft longitudinally in an inward direction to dislodge the grinder block from the annular grinder, an adjusting shaft threaded through said bushing with its inner end portion passing through the spring retainer and rotatably received in the bore of said valve, "a thrust bearing in the bore of said valve engaged by the inner end of the adjusting shaft, anda seal between the thrust bearing and the inner end of the grinder shaft.

11. In an emulsor and grinder, a body having a chamber provided at one end with an inlet,

a head for the other end of the chamber, a rotary drive shaft having one end confronting the inlet and formed with a pocket, an annular valve seat in said chamber intermediate the length thereof, an emulsor valve in said chamber formed with an axially extending bore, a grinder .shaft extending longitudinally in said chamber said drive shaft, a spring in said pocket engag- I ing the outer end of said grinder shaft for urging the shaft inwardly, said grinder sha'ft being 40 adapted to turn with the driveshaft, an annue let, a grinder block carried by said shaft and. disposed within the annular grin'der member, a

shaft threaded through said bushing and passing through the spring retainer with its inner end engaged in the bore of said valve, nd a bearingbetween the inner end of said a justing shaft and the inner end of said grinder shaft whereby the grinder shaft may turn freelyindependent of said valve.

10. In an emulsor and grinder, a body formed with a chamber having an inlet at one end, a head for the other end of said chamber, an annular valve seat in said chamber intermediate the length thereof, an emulsor valve in the chamber having a stemextending toward said lar grinder member in said chamber surrounding the inlet and having its bore gradually reduced in diameter toward its outer end, a grinder block surrounding said grinder shaft within the chamber and tapered for wedging fit within the annular grinder member, a bushing threaded through said head, an adjusting shaft threaded through said bushing with its inner end rotatably engaged in the bore of said valve, a thrust bearing between the inner ends of the adjusting shaft and the grinder shaft, a spring retainer a chamber therein provided at its inner end with an inlet for material under pressure and having a head closing its outer end, grinding means in said "chamber, a valve seat in the chamber spaced from the.-grind ing means longitudinally of ,the

- chamber, an emulsifier valve said chamber,

a spring yieldably holding said valve against said seat, means for regulating tension of said spring longitudinally including a sleeve shiftable through th head at the outer end of the chamber, and means carried bythe sleeve and shiftable longitudinally throughthe sleeve for adjusting said grinding means.

JOHN MARCO. 

